3 publishers · first seen Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:44 UTC · updated Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:29 UTC
BAFTA has launched an independent review into its historic practice of allowing trustees to receive complimentary tickets, including for a guest, to its awards ceremonies, a policy discontinued in 2025 following a governance committee recommendation. Michael Pritchett, chair of BAFTA’s membership council, raised concerns at the annual general meeting, stating legal advice he commissioned suggested trustees who approved the organization’s financial accounts may have breached the Charities Act and Companies Act, as the accounts declared no remuneration or benefits were received.
Pritchett said the guest tickets, which included premium seats at the BAFTA Film Awards valued at £2,000, may have constituted undisclosed benefits over a period of up to 20 years, potentially triggering tax liabilities for BAFTA and trustees dating back to 2016. He called for any unpaid taxes to be settled, benefits repaid, and accounts corrected, while criticizing a senior executive for refusing to provide records on ticket recipients.
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